Hair drying apparatus



March 16, 1937. c. G. GROSS HAIR DRYING APPARATUS Filed March :5, 193:5

3' Sheets-Sheet 1 E N w w A March 16, 1937. C. G. GROSS I 2,074,018

HAIR DRYING APPARATUS Filed March 3. 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 16,1937. c. G. GROSS 2,074,018

' HAIR DRYING APPARATUS Filed March 3, 1955 3 Shoets-$heet 5 PatentedMar. 16, 1937 UNITED STATES HAIR DRYING APPARATUS Carl G. Gross, MountVernon, N. Y., assignor, by mesne assignments, to American Machine andMetals, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware ApplicationMarch 3, 1983, Serial No. 659,445

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to apparatus for drying hair upon thehuman head, and more particularly to a novel and improved hair dryingapparatus which may be alternatively used as a blower.

' Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in parthereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned byprac-- tice with the invention, the same being realized and attained bymeans of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in theappended claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements,combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

Theaccompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a parthereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and together withthe description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

0f the drawings:-

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an illustrative embodiment of thepresent invention, with certain parts being shown in section;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the embodiment shown in Figure 1, withthe hood thrown back so that the apparatus may be used with a blower;

Figure '3 is a detail verticalsectlon through the central portion of thefan and fan casing, with certain parts removed;

Figures 4, 5 and 6 are detail views of the shutter device in severalpositions, and looking from the interior of the fan casing;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary detail view of the fan casing and associatedparts, with certain parts broken away or removed; and

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic view showing the electrical circuit andconnections for the motor, heating coils and switches. The presentinvention has for its object the provision of a novel and improveddrying apparatus for the drying of hair on a head, said apparatus beingadapted to. operate either as a drier or as a blower. A further objectis the provision 45 of a recirculating drier which can be operated as ablower to direct a powerful stream of heated or unheated air against thecustomers scalp. Still another object is the provision of a drier whichmay operate to recirculate the air over the 50 customers he'ad'or may beoperated without recirculation; thereby continuously delivering a freshvolume of air and passing it over the scalp and hair.

Referring to the illustrative embodiment of the 55 invention, theapparatus of the present invention (Cl. 34-26) l preferably comprises amotor-driven fan operat-- me within a casing, a pair of air conductingmembers, and a hood to" fit over the customers head, the conductingmembers being formed and arranged to supply air to and withdraw air fromsaid hood and lead this air to and away from the fan. Means are alsopreferably provided for detachably connecting the hood with the airconducting members so that the apparatus may be used as a drier or as adirect blower, as desired. Shutter control means adjacent to the fan arealso provided for controlling the supply of fresh air to the fan, andbafiie means are provided within said hood for circulating the air in adefinite path over the head, the fresh air preferably being dischargedaround the neck and forehead of the customer while the air is withdrawnfrom a point closely adjacent to the top of the head. Suitable heatingmeans, which are preferably regulable, are provided for heating the airto expedite and render more comfortable the drying process.

It will be understood that the foregoing general description and thefollowing detailed description as well, are exemplary and explanatory ofthe invention but are not restrictive thereof.

As embodied in the device shown in detail in the accompanying drawings,a casing til is provided, which is mounted on an adjustable stand it ofconventional construction, and comprises a cylindricalportion l2 openinginto the involute portion E3 of the casing proper within which is acylindrical chamber conforming closely in diametral size to the size ofthe fan. The fan is preferably a siroco fan M, mounted on motor shaft 05which extends through one side of the casing and is journalled in themotor it mounted on the same side of the casing. The cylindrical portion82 is divided into two ducts H and it, each semi-circular in crosssection, and separated from each other by means of a web 09, which maybe cast integrally with the casing l3 and cylindrical portion it. At itsouter end, web 19 preferably lies in a horizontal plane and is formed asa screw so that it terminates adjacent to the fan in a vertical planeand is extended to form a wall 20 dividing the involute casing l3 intotwo side by side halves.

Wall 20 is preferably formed with an opening 2| concentric with the fanl4, and of a size to fit closely over the circumference of the fan,along its edge, while permitting free rotation of said fan, this openingserving to admit air to the central portion of said fan. The air suckedthrough said opening is expelled by said fan through duct l8, while theduct ll serves to supply air to said fan. If it is desired to have theupper duct carry the air under pressure, the web l9 may be formed as aright-handed screw, instead of as a left handed screw.

A' dust cover 22 may be provided over said motor l6, and suitableconductors 23 are protively large circular opening 26 over which ismounted a variable shutter device'so that more or less air may be drawnin through said opening 26. As embodied, this shutter device comprises aplurality of cruciform members 2?, 28 and 29. Each of said members 2?,28 and 29 comprises four radially positioned segmental vanes 3dconnected together at their centers by a circular piece 3E, and alongtheir outer edges by an annular ring 32. The several members arepreferably of the same size and general shape, each vane extendingslightly more than 30 and these members 2'5, 28 and 29 are arrangedconcentrically with each other on a short shaft 33. Members 2% and 29are loosely mounted on said shaft while member 27 is made fast to shaft33 by means of the splined end of said shaft and nut 3%. Along theannular portion 32 of member 27? are formed a series of spaced arcuateslots at, each 'of a length slightly more than 60", while member 28 issimilarly provided with similarly spaced arouate slots 3% ofapproximatey 30. Member 2% need not be provided with any slots butmounting screws 3'? pass through it and slots 35 and t5 and limitmovement of members 27 and 28, also serving to secure the guard grille3B in position to the casing wall. The ends of slots 35 are providedwith small lips Ed at both ends of each slot which project into slots 35and serve to move member 23 by rotation of member 2?. A knob dd ismounted onshaft 32 and is convenient for turning said shaft to'open orclose the shutter device.

Figures 4, 5 and 6 show several positions of the membersfil, 28 and Edto regulate the air volume. In figure e, the shutters are closed, inFigure 5 they are partially open and in Figure 6,

' they are turned to theirmaximum opening. As member 2% is rotated fromthe position of Figure 5 to that of Figure 6, or from that of vFigure 5to that of Figure 4, tongues 39 on member 28 are engaged by the ends ofslots '85 in member 2land rotate member 25.

Heating means are provided in the path of the air being circulam' forheating the air to the desired temperature so as to expedite drying ofthe hair. For this purpose, a plurality of supporting members 53 areprovided which are preferably positioned closely adjacent to the intakeside of the fan and are positioned parallel to each other and to theaxis or" the fan. These supporting members 33 are mounted on smallbrackets dd which may be attached to the inner side of the casing walladjacent to opening 26. .Ehe particular arrangement oi the heating coilsmay be varied widely, but as embodied, the coils are connected togetheras shown in Figure 8 of the drawings. As there shown, there are providedtwo relatively small coils it and 4? 9i d fie ent resistance which areconnected together in se- .ries, and are also in series with theparallel connected resistance heating coils 48 and 69, also of difierentresistance. By variously connecting the several coils together, as willbe described, the temperature of the air circulated by the fan may bewidely varied to suit the various operating conditions.

Means are also provided adapted to fit loosely over the customers headto receive the air circulated by said fan and to pass it over the headin a predetermined path, and. if desired, to return this air aftercirculation to the intake side I of the fan. As embodied; a hood 56having a general bell shape and somewhat larger than a than thecustomer's head which is adapted to be fitted over the head and receivethe major portion of the hair to be dried. Hood 53 is spaced from hood5d and is mounted thereon by means of an annular ring 5% midway betweenthe ends of hood 53, and by means of bolts 55 and spacers 56, extendingbetween the lower edges of hoods 5E and 53, these parts cooperating tohold the inner and outer hoods in a fixed position relatively to eachother. Annular spacing member 543 preferably completely fills the spacebetween the two hoods dividing the space between them into twonon-communicating portions.

Means are provided for optionally placing the hoods 58, 53 and theirassociated parts out of operative'relation when this is desired, and forthis purpose hood 5E1 is pivotally mounted on the cylindrical member itby means of a hinged bracket 58 having one end 59 secured to member i2,while the other end 6% is secured to hood and may be formed integrallywith the cylin= drical member 52. The ends 59 and 6d are piv= otedaround pivot pin ti and permit the hood portion 56 to be laid back ontop of cylindrical member 52 and casing it, resting'on bufier stop 52.The adjacent and interiitting ends of cylindrical members 92 and 52 arepreferably stepped to secure a tight joint which will not leak anappreciable quantity oi air. Also, a catch may be provided forreleasably locking the hood in the position shown in Figure l, and asembodied comprises a spring riveted at one.

of its ends to the inner wall of cylindrical member 52, and apertured atits other end to pass over and engage with a pin 55 on the inner wall ofmember i2. A push pin 66 is secured to the spring and passes outwardlythrough the wall of member 52 and provides a means for releasing thecawh.

Cylindrical member 5211s provided with a diametral web at, positionedhorizontally and forming an extension of web it, to which isfastened'the annular ring 5% for supplying air under pressure from thefan to the lower half of the hood and for withdrawing air from the upperhalf of the hood by means of the fan acting through ducts ll, ll, i8 andH8.

The efiluent air passes around the lower portlon of hood 53 and isdischarged in an annular stream, and. for directing this stream towardsthe head and particularly the neck, forehead I and front edges of thehair, the'lower portion --ure 8 of the drawings. 20.

of the hood is provided with an inwardly curved lip 68, which may beprovided with 9. rolled edge 69. Lip 68 serves to force the eflluent airradially inward and directly against the head of the customer. Due tothe suction being exerted on the air in the upper portion of the hood,the major portion of the air passed through the annular spaces betweenthe lower ends of hoods 50 and 53 is sucked upwardly and over the headof the customer. At the upper and open end of hood 53 is provided ascreen or other foraminous member 18 which serves to preventthe hair ofthe customer being sucked upwardly and into duct l1.

The heating means previously described may be connected in circuit withthe motor in accordance with the circuit diagram shown in Fig- In thiscircuit, the heating coils 48 and .49 are connected in parallel witheach other and in series with the series connected resistance heatingcoils 46 and 41. A switch 1! is also provided in circuit for controllingthe supply of energy to the heating coils and to motor it. As embodied,switch it comprises two rotatable switching members 12 and 13interconnected by means of a shaft 14 and insulated from each other.Switching member 12 comprises a pair of movable contact members 15electrically interconnected and spaced 90 apart, and adapted to contactwith stationary contacts 16, 11 and 18, also spaced 90 apart. Switchingmember 18 comprises three movable contact members 18, electricallyinterconnected and spaced 90 apart, and three stationary contacts 80, 8iand 82 also spaced 90 apart. Contacts 11 and 88 are connected together,while contacts 18 and 8! are similarly interconnected but otherwise thecontacts are insulated from each other.

Contacts 1? and 88 are connected to one terminal of motor 98, the otherterminal of which is connected to main 84, while contact 82 is connected to main 85. Contacts 18 and iii are connected to one end ofheating coil 59 which has its other end connected to main 88 throughheating coils 48 and '11, while coil 88 is connected at one end to maindi through coils 48 and 41 and at its other end to contact 18.

In the position shown in Figure 8 of the drawings, no current issupplied to either the motor H6 or the heating coils as the circuit isbroken at contact 82. By rotating the rotatable switching members 12 and13 clockwise through 90, power is supplied through contact 82 tocontacts Si, 88, 1t, 11 and 18 energizing the motor l6 and heating coilsflit, :31, 88 and 88.- A further rotation of 90, interrupts the supplyof energy toheating coil 88. Another rotation of 90 interrupts thesupply of current through contacts 8i, 18, and 18 and in this positionno power is supplied to any of the heating coils. It is thus possible tooperate the motorwhile power issupplied to none, or all of the heatingcoils, or to only coils d8, 81 and 88.

Means are also provided for permitting the customer to control the heatwithin limited ranges to suit individual tastes and for this purpose isprovided a switch 86 having a movable contact 81 and two stationarycontacts 88 and 89, with either or neither of which contact 81 mayengage. Contact 81 is connected to the end of heating coil 41 andbetween it and coils 48 and 49, contact 88 is connected between the endsof coils l6 and 41, while contact 89 is connected to the other end ofcoil 46. By contacting contacts 81 and 88 coil 41 is short-circuited,and by contacting contacts 81 and 89, coil 45 is similarlyshort-circuited. Coil 41 is preferably of a higher resistance than coil46, so that when contact 81 engages neither contact 88 nor 88 the heatsupplied by the coils is least, and greatest when contact 81 engagescontact 89. In practice and as shown in Figure 1, switch 1| ispreferably mounted on the fancasing, while switch 86 is connected bymeans of a flexible conductor of suitable length.

The operation of the apparatus of the present invention may be brieflysummarized as follows:

With the hood 58 in the position as shown in Figure 1, adapting theapparatus for use as a recirculating drier, the air is circulated by fanM and is forced by it into duct 18, and from thence into duct i8. Ducti8 opens into the lower annular spaces between hoods 58 and 53 and asthe air emerges from the annular opening at the bottom edge of hood 53the air is directed inwardly towards the customers head by rim 68. Theair then flows upwardly into hood 53 over the customers head and issucked through screen 18 into the upper annular space between hoods 5i!and 53 and thence into duct [11' and 91 which lead the air to theopening 2! communicating with the central portion of siroco fan M. Asmall amount of fresh air is continually added to the air beingrecirculated and thus maintains the drying properties of the air.

By opening or closing the shutter device over opening 28, the amount ofrecirculation may be controlled to any extent desired, and with: theshutter device completely open, practically no recirculation takesplace.

By swinging 'the hood back and into theposition shown in Figure 2 of thedrawings, the apparatus is converted into a blower adapted to direct apowerful, concentrated blast of air against a relatively small portionof the head. In this manner of operation, the air is forced out throughduct i8, and if the shutters 21, 28 and 28 are closed a considerableamount of this air is sucked back into the fan and is recirculated.However, if the shutter device is opened, very little air isrecirculated by the fan due to the greater facility with which air maybe drawn through the shutter device directly into the fan than throughduct i1.

With any of the manners of operation described, the heat may be variedas desired by manipulation of switches 1i and 88, thereby providing anunusual range of usefulness for the apparatus.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specificmechanisms shown and described but departures may be made therefromwithin the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from theprinciples of the invention and without sacrificing its chiefadvantages.

What I claim is:-

1. A drier for use in drying hair including in combination a hood to fitover a human head, a shell within said hood and spaced slightlytherefrom, means for dividing the space between said shell and hood intotwo annular spaces end to end and means for expelling air through saidlower space and withdrawing it through said upper space.

2. A hair drying apparatus including in com bination a fan fordelivering air under pressure, a hood to receive a portion of a person'shead, air conduits between said hood and fan, one of said conduits beingpositioned and adapted to supply air to said hood from the outer portionof said fan and the other conduit being adapted to'withdraw air fromsaid hood and return it to the center of said fan, an inner hood mountedwithin said first hood and spaced therefrom and a web between said hoodsto form upper and lower chambers through which and saidinner hood theair is circulated by said tan, said chain:

